Texas ponders suing over decision to put biothreat lab in Manhattan

MANHATTAN | Texas officials are considering suing the Department of Homeland Security over its decision to award the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility to Kansas.

Among key points being raised is that Texas wasn't able to respond to a Homeland Security request to meet certain state infrastructure investments because legislators weren't in session.

Kansas has been awarded the project in a document signed Monday by Homeland Security Undersecretary Jay Cohen, though the agency hasn't made its decision public.

Kansas officials say there was nothing unfair about the Homeland Security process, including a 30-day comment period during which Texas was able to put its concerns about the project in writing. The comments were made after Homeland Security announced in December that Kansas won the project.

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